Chidambaram unable to read out statement, both houses adjourned

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) Both houses of parliament were Tuesday adjourned as opposition MPS continued to disrupt proceedings over Minority Affairs Minister A.R. Antulay’s controversial remarks questioning the circumstances leading to the death of a Maharashtra police officer during the Mumbai terror strike.In the Lok Sabha, Home Minister P. Chidamabaram could not read out the government’s statement on the deaths of three police officers, including Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare on Nov 26, with MPs continuing to raise slogans.

As the din continued, an exasperated Speaker Somnath Chatterjee asked Chidambaram to table the statement.

Similar scenes were played out in the Rajya Sabha where MPs of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) demanded Antulay’s resignation.

Both houses were adjourned till 2 p.m.

Antulay had hinted that Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare’s death could be linked to the Sep 29 Malegaon bombing he was investigating and in which members of Hindu radical groups are the main suspects.

“We are agitated over the issue that made a minister (Antulay) hero in Pakistan,” Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, L.K Advani said.